Discards and discarding practices in German fisheries in the North Sea and Northeast Atlantic during 2002-2008

Since 2002, Germany is obliged to collect fishery data to support the European Common Fisheries Policy. Sampling of the commercial fishery under German flag is one duty within the EU fisheries data collection programme. Between 2002 and 2008, 191 fishing trips were sampled by scientific observers onboard commercial fishing vessels to collect data on catch compositions with special emphasis on the proportions of landed and discarded fish. The results show that the proportion of discard is depending on the type of fishing activity (fishing metier). Highest discard rates were observed on beam trawl fishing trips. At the level of individual fishing trips, discard rates varied extremely within a fishing metier. Highest variations were found in the beam and bottom otter trawl fishery. In contrast, the discard rates in high-seas fisheries were low. Reasons for discarding are discussed in the current legislation and policy context.